Perpetrators, victims, bystanders and up standers: cyber bullying in a special school context.

This study offers a multi-dimensional analysis of ‘real world’ cyberbullying between members of a special school community. The purpose of this article is to analyse the social and educational contexts within which interactions of this nature are embedded.The interview both illuminated a number of themes pertinent to the current literature and extended those related to the call for further analysis of the contextual determinants of cyberbullying.The influence of the conditions experienced by the children involved (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)) is discussed and demonstrated. This use of natural observation provides a current and ‘real world’ illustration of teacher perceptions of the complex behaviours and interactions occurring in cyberspace, which hold potential for grave consequences. A hopeful tone is maintained as the potential for selfless upstander behaviour and resolution via the involvement of supportive and knowledgeable pastoral staff is realised in the article’s conclusion.<br/

How does apprentice resilience work?

Researchers in the field of educational sciences have realised the necessity to understand and enhance resilience in educational settings in order to improve the quality of life for all persons involved in educational processes and consequently improve learning processes. Various definitions and conceptualisations of resilience exist (e.g., on teachers or college students); however, despite evidence of alarming high dropout rates and occupational stress in some apprentice occupations, a dearth of research exists with regard to their resilience. This chapter aims to contribute to resilience research by first presenting, based on appraisal theory, a generic process model of resilience, which is influenced by internal and external resources. This process is embedded in a context model, as context and resilience processes are interrelated, further creating specific resilience processes. The generic model is applied to the German vocational education context using a specific case from research in a vocational setting